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How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts
Whentheysawtheirleaderfall,thecrowdgaveanotherangryshout;butthestrangerplacedhisbackagainstthetentnearwhichhestood,swinginghisterriblestaff,andsofellhadbeentheblowthathestruckthestoutsmiththatnonedaredtocomewithinthemeasureofhiscudgel,sothepresscrowdedback,likeapackofdogsfromabearatbay.Butnowsomecowardhandfrombehindthrewasharpjaggedstonethatsmotethestrangeronthecrown,sothathestaggeredback,andtheredbloodgushedfromthecutandrandownhisfaceandoverhisjerkin.Then,seeinghimdazedwiththisvileblow,thecrowdrusheduponhim,sothattheyoverborehimandhefellbeneaththeirfeet.
Nowitmighthavegoneillwiththeyouth,eventothelosingofhisyounglife,hadnotSirRichardcometothisfair;forofasudden,shoutswereheard,andsteelflashedintheair,andblowsweregivenwiththeflatofswords,whilethroughthemidstofthecrowdSirRichardoftheLeacamespurringonhiswhitehorse.Thenthecrowd,seeingthesteel-cladknightandthearmedmen,meltedawaylikesnowonthewarmhearth,leavingtheyoungmanallbloodyanddustyupontheground.
Findinghimselffree,theyoutharoseand,wipingthebloodfromhisface,lookedup.Quothhe,"SirRichardoftheLea,mayhapthouhastsavedmylifethisday."
"WhoartthouthatknowestSirRichardoftheLeasowell?"quoththeKnight."MethinksIhaveseenthyfacebefore,youngman.
